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C♯m7♭5 chord on guitar

C♯m7♭5 (C♯ half-diminished) is C♯, E, G and B. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x4545x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 5th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

C♯m7♭5

C♯ half-diminished · C♯ E G B · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7

  • 4th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    4fr1324C♯GBE

    x4545x

  • 8th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    8fr2341C♯BEG

    9x998x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are C♯, the root.

How to play C♯m7♭5

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 4th fret

    x4545x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 5th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 6th string · 8th fret

    9x998x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 2nd string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 9th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 9th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 9th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the C♯m7♭5 chord

C♯m7♭5 is C♯, E, G and B, and it sounds dark and jazzy, the minor key’s ii chord in jazz. From C♯, count 3 half steps up to E, 3 more to G and 4 more to B. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with C♯ lowest. See its inversions and keys on the C♯m7♭5 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after C♯m7♭5

F♯7242322C♯m7♭5 to F♯7 is iiø7 to V7, the minor key’s ii–V.Dxx0232C♯m7♭5 is the viiø7 of D: up a half step to home.

More guitar chords

Other chords on C♯

D♭C♯mC♯7D♭maj7C♯m7C♯sus2C♯sus4D♭add9C♯9D♭6C♯dimC♯dim7D♭aug

Half-diminished chords on other notes

Cm7♭5Dm7♭5D♯m7♭5Em7♭5Fm7♭5F♯m7♭5Gm7♭5G♯m7♭5Am7♭5A♯m7♭5Bm7♭5

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play C♯m7♭5 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x4545x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 5th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the C♯m7♭5 chord?

C♯m7♭5 is C♯, E, G and B. In the shape written x4545x, the 5th to 2nd strings play C♯, G, B and E.

Is C♯m7♭5 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play C♯m7♭5 on guitar?

This page shows two: x4545x (4th fret) and 9x998x (8th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with C♯m7♭5?

Yes. “Make a beat in D major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D major on D A Bm G, the key where C♯m7♭5 is the viiø7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in D major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D major on D A Bm G, the key where C♯m7♭5 is the viiø7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in D majorAll guitar chords

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